Advice SSD question any advice/ thoughts greatly appreciated re quality controls

[Lindy Ryan]

Hello Brains trust

We are seeking clarification / advice on microbiological testing being carried out on Sterilised Instruments and trays as part of Quality Assurance exercises & if this is being undertaken in any other facilities and if so why

In particular we are looking at our risk management framework considerations around monitoring and managing humidification and temperature of instruments that are externally transported ( as part of quality assurance) i.e. items that are reprocessed at one site & then transported by vehicle (which monitors this) to other sites for use. ……. and a occasionally undergo random swabbing i.e. sterile trays/instruments that have been transported to another site would be opened and swabbed, the swabs are then sent to Pathology for analysis to establish if there is any growth.

We have reviewed AS/NZS 4187:2014 and have only found the following guidance:
“A8 Guidance to Section 8 Routine Monitoring and Control
A8.1 General
… Assurance of quality cannot be guaranteed by laboratory testing. Instead, quality should be built into RMD by suitable validation and control of reprocessing activities for that RMD.” (page 102 of AS4187) )

Other than seeing that the ongoing calibration of sterilisers, training of staff, and surveillance of surgical site infections what are other sites doing if they are not swabbing

Any clarification, suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated as always

Kind regards

Lindy

Lindy Ryan

District Infection Prevention & Control CNC | Clinical Governance and Information Services MNCLHD
Level 1 Coffs Specialist Centre, Pacific Hwy, Coffs Harbour
Mob 0419 990 693 | lindy.ryan@health.health.nsw.gov.au
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au

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